Fijian Pacifica Kava Boys is a kava bar on Cavendish Drive in Manukau City Centre, Auckland, holding a 4.6 rating on Google.
Kava — yaqona in Fijian — is a traditional drink made from the ground root of the kava plant, mixed with water and strained, and first-timers should expect an earthy, slightly peppery taste that catches a few people off guard. The effect is gentle relaxation rather than intoxication, which is what makes kava bars a popular alcohol-free alternative to the pub. A good one strains finely, keeps the kava fresh, and keeps the room social, in the spirit of a Fijian grog session where shells are shared and the talk runs long. Regulars know to arrive on a fairly empty stomach and let the calm build over a few rounds.
In Manukau City Centre, at the heart of one of the country's largest Pacific communities, it could hardly be better placed.